Guyana prepares for validation of elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission

Jul 29, 2015 News

Guyana is currently in the process of preparing a report for the validation of the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
This disclosure was made yesterday by Minister of Public Health, Dr George Norton, who opined “if Cuba can do it, so should Guyana and with that we have to work.”
Cuba was just last month named the first country to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis and, according to Minister Norton, achieving this is no small task, even for an island territory.
“We recognise them for what they have done and there are many things that might have gone in their favour or might be in their favour, but we take away no credit and laud Cuba for being the first country in the world to have achieve that,” said the Minister as he noted that Guyana is poised for a similar achievement.
He however pointed out that unlike Cuba’s island setting, Guyana’s borders are porous.
“We are surrounded by countries that we really have no control over and persons traverse frequently,” said the Minister, as he admitted that eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV “would be a difficult thing to do; regardless of that we should try to gain that status like Cuba has done.”
Cuba’s achievement was regarded as a “major victory” by Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Margaret Chan, who noted that “eliminating transmission of a virus is one of the greatest public health achievements possible”.
According to Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr Carissa F. Etienne too, “Cuba’s success demonstrates that universal access and universal health coverage are feasible and indeed are the key to success, even against challenges as daunting as HIV.”
But according to Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud, “the bottom line of Cuba’s achievement is the health system and their health system is really built on a solid primary health care foundation.”
“I think that’s probably the key to Cuba achieving their elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis,” said Dr Persaud, as he underscored the importance of primary health care here in Guyana.
He noted that while the role of the health sector is paramount, the support of civil society is also a motivating factor in the quest for the ambitious goal Guyana now eyes – the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
Guyana has seen a decline in the mother-to-child transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) from 5.8 percent in 2010 to less than one percent today. This achievement was highlighted yesterday by the Minister as he addressed a gathering of senior health officers at the start of a forum to facilitate the half-year review of the Ministry’s Maternal and Child Health/Expanded Programme on Immunisation.
“Congratulations are in order,” said the Minister as he disclosed that this development was made possible through a number of efforts, including the early identification and screening of mothers and infants with HIV; use of DNA/PCR testing in infants as early as six weeks, and the use of anti-retroviral drugs.
Added to this, the Minister said that “we also have in this programme the implementation of case-tracking systems for defaulters for follow-up care, and for both mother and infants who are HIV positive.”

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Guyana prepares for validation of elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission

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